§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether, further to his reply of 20 May concerning the 1973 forecasts for cross-Channel traffic, he will add the actual figures for 1980 and the latest forecast for 1990 and the year in which the tunnel is due to be completed; and who is responsible for ensuring that the fares charged by the cross-Channel ferries for passengers and accompanied vehicles are not fixed collusively.
§ Mr. PortilloThe actual figures for 1980, comparable with those given earlier for 1986 and which correspond as closely as possible to the 1973 forecast categories, are as follows:
Shipping Services 1980 Pasiengers (millions) Accompanied vehicle passengers 9.0 Other passengers 7.7 Air Services 22.5 Total Passengers 39.2 Roll-on/Roll-off and Container Traffic 115.4 1 million tonnes Regarding current forecasts for future years, I refer the hon. Member to the answer of 18 May, at column 460, to my hon. Friend the Member for Christchurch (Mr. Adley).
The tunnel is due to be completed in 1993. The Director General of Fair Trading is responsible for monitoring undertakings given by ferry companies. Any allegations of collusive pricing would be a matter for him to consider under the competition legislation.